Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
BLAKE
I’ve woken up each morning to a little gift from Damon on my bedside table and today is no different. He’s left an iced latte—my favorite—and a single white rose. It’s unnerving how he’s able to get in and out while I’m asleep, but I haven’t questioned it. If I’m being honest, his creepiness makes me feel special and cared for, in my own weird way.
Since we broke into Ethan’s parent’s house a few weeks ago, I haven’t seen Damon in person. He’s seen me, apparently. I’ve been trying not to read into it too much. We’re both busy. School and studying for me and whatever criminal shit him and the guys do. I refuse to be desperate and chase after him. He knows where I am, obviously. And he has my number… He can learn how to use it more. It’s just funny how he was all, you’re mine, Blake… growly possessive crap. Well, where’s the follow through, huh? He can show up when I’m asleep but then ghosts me all day. Not cool.
I scoot up in bed and take a sip of my latte. Perfectly made, damn him. Since I’m feeling kinda feisty this morning, I grab my phone and send him a text.
Me: At least you’re a creeper who brings gifts… thank you.
While I wait for a reply, I scroll up to our last few messages. Not that I know him well, but I’ve gotten a feel of how he texts, and something was different. I know he’s safe or there’d be no bedside table gifts, but something has to be going on.
Me: I hope everything’s ok…
He’s fine, I’m sure of it. I just wish I didn’t care so much. Pushing him out of my mind, I scramble around to get ready for another long day of classes. Microbiology and pharmacology will be the death of me.
Three hours and one massive headache later, I’m finally free. My stomach growls from skipping breakfast and I’ve had to avoid Julie and her questions about Ethan for the last hour. If I knew what happened to him, I’d tell her, but I’m in the dark as much as she is. Thinking of Ethan had me thinking of Damon and what we did on Ethan’s bed. My cheeks reddened while we chatted, so much so that I cut the conversation short.
Walking through campus, I take in the gorgeous reds and golds of autumn and breathe in the faint scent of wood smoke in the air. They’ve decorated the outside of the old buildings with potted mums and pumpkins. I love everything about this time of year.
Opting for the cafe on campus instead of going into town, I order another iced latte and one of their chicken quinoa bowls. All the bread and baked goods smell incredible, but because of my allergies, unfortunately, I can only smell them. There’s a free table by the window so I snag it and check my phone while I wait. My stomach flutters when I see a reply from Damon, still listed as Freddy. At this point I don’t know if I’ll ever change that.
Freddy: You’re welcome, Angel. Don’t worry about me, make sure you take care of yourself today… drink water, eat lunch, don’t work too hard.
There’s the overbearing guy I know.
I bite my lip and think of a reply. Something that says, I want to see you again but doesn’t sound too clingy. Oh God, it’s been way too long since I’ve done this awkward “getting to know a new guy” thing. I hate how unsure I feel.
Me: Sitting at the cafe right now.
I glance over at the few full tables where couples are chatting, or friends are meeting up between classes. If I don’t want to be alone all the time I guess I should put myself out there. I know just how to get to him.
Me: I’ll talk to you later, this guy from class just sat down with me.
I click my phone off and grin. I know I’m being a brat and playing right into his possessive, jealous nature when instead, I could easily admit that I miss him and want to see him. It’s immature and irresponsible, yet I can’t help but picture his face when he reads the message. Maybe that makes me just as nuts as he is.
The server brings my lunch and I scarf it down, feeling my headache subside with each bite. In the spare half hour I have left, I grab my laptop and work on some of my ethics assignments. They’re pretty straightforward but I try to write well thought out responses. I had the same professor last year and he loved to have us do impromptu presentations, so this year I’ll be padding my answers just in case.
Clouds roll in, blocking the gorgeous fall sunshine by the time I pack up and leave the cafe for my last class of the day. In case I get lucky enough to get rained on, I zip my computer into my bag and shrug on the sweater I brought with me.
It’s a ten minute walk to the building and I’m speed walking. My phone beeps from my bag but I ignore it as the wind picks up. The building is within my line of sight when the first few drops of rain sprinkle on me.
“Shoot,” I say, picking up my pace. “Come on, I’m almost there.” No amount of pleading with the elements helps. The sky opens up and the soft sprinkles become a steady downpour. The few students around me race to get indoors, stomping through quick forming puddles in their pursuit.
I tug my bag higher on my shoulder and start to jog, when someone grabs me from behind. Disoriented, I swing my bag and struggle to break free until I hear his voice. “Where’s your lunch date? Not very chivalrous of him to let you walk to class alone in the rain.”
His smooth voice sends a tingle along my skin. “He had to go,” I lie. Damon chuckles, his warm breath skating along the curve of my neck. He spins me around and I’m struck silent by the heat in his amber eyes.
Rain is coming down in sideways sheets, muffling our voices and the sounds around us, but I hear him clear as day as he says, “If you think I’d let another man enjoy your company, you’re mistaken. There was no lunch date… if there were, he’d be dead.”
“How would you know? You haven’t been around,” I yell as rain pelts my face.
He swipes his hand through his hair and pins me with his gaze. “I know. Trust me on that.” This man is the most frustrating, egotistical, annoying… I stew over a response but I’m cut off by him leaning in. “If you were trying to make me jealous, it worked. That was a very bad thing to do, Blake.”
I scoff and turn my face away but he grabs my chin like he always does and draws me back to him. My skin is electric where he touches me. “What are you going to do about it?” I challenge him.
He claims my lips, rough and punishing. My heart pounds against my chest as he fists my hair and pulls me closer. Everything disappears. The rain. The students dashing to class. The entire world around us. There’s only him and his demanding kiss. My nipples harden to sensitive peaks against my soaked shirt and I moan into his mouth.
He pulls back, leaving a fire in his wake. Our breaths come in uneven pants and I’m reluctant to let him go. I’ve never been kissed like that. Not once in my twenty-four years.
He swipes his thumb across my bottom lip. “Smeared your lipstick.”
“Oh,” I say dreamily. I blink and come back to reality. “Shoot, I need to get to class.”
That dark laugh escapes his lips again. I hate how much it affects me. “I should drag you to my car and spank that sweet ass for being bad, but I won’t. Not yet, at least. I’ll think of something much better.”
He’d spank me? The thought doesn’t totally freak me out. If anything, I feel an ache growing in my core. “I’m not a child. You can’t punish me.”
“Get to class, Blake.” He responds with a grin and walks leisurely back to his car, not caring that he’s completely drenched too. Huffing, I turn and book it to class. I only look over my shoulder once, but when I do he’s still there, standing outside his car, watching me.
A shiver runs down my spine imagining what he has in store for me.
I decide to take advantage of the empty house and sit cozy by the fireplace. Normally when it’s just Mischa and me here, I keep to my bedroom. I should ask Brennan if he knows where she’s been lately. She hasn't been home all week.
After sitting through ethics class in drenched clothes, even the sparse fire I managed to get going and my warmest pajamas aren’t cutting it. My body is chilled down to my bones.
I add another log from the stack I found in the garage and go put some water on for tea. While I’m in the kitchen, I imagine all the changes I’d make to this house if it were mine. It’s too big, but at least it has some of the home’s original features. Intricate crown molding, heavy wooden doors, and I’m pretty sure the windows are original too. I grab a mug and a peppermint tea bag and imagine how the space would look with black cabinets and white marble countertops.
I grab my phone to look up ideas when I notice a text from Falin.
Falin: Hey, call me when you get this!
I hit call right away and she answers on the first ring. “Tell me you love me,” she says instead of a greeting.
“Um, hi. I love you?” I say. I’m only mildly confused; this is Falin I’m talking to after all.
“That sounded more like a question, but I’ll take it. Guess what?” She sounds frenzied compared to my relaxed, quiet tone. The tea kettle whistles so I busy myself pouring the hot water into my mug.
“A spot finally opened up for you in the country’s best grippy sock jail?” I tease, stirring some honey into the mug.
“I wish,” she says. “This is even better. I just booked a flight to visit for your birthday!”
I grin ear to ear. My birthday is in a week and with Brennan still overseas, I had a feeling I’d be spending it alone. “Oh my God, I’m gonna cry.”
“Not allowed because wait until you hear what else I did.” I make my way back into the living room, clutching my steaming mug. My insides twist with anxiety.
I love Falin like a sister but usually our ideas of fun are wildly different. There was the trip we took to Vegas in college when I lost her for two days. Turns out she was having the time of her life with this couple she met at the casino. Or the time she booked us a dinner reservation and it ended up being at a “clothing optional” restaurant. I had no idea those existed but apparently they do. I’m all about a natural dining experience but something about knowing another person’s wrinkly balls or sweaty butt shared the same chair as me really killed my appetite.
“I’m afraid to ask,” I say, then correct myself so I don’t hurt her feelings. “Because I know how hard it will be to top my twenty-second birthday.”
She’s quiet for a moment before laughing. “Shit, I totally forgot about the clowns.”
“Lucky you,” I say. “Anyway, spill. What did you plan?”
“I got us tickets to this spooky burlesque show! I’ve heard amazing things about it so when I saw them coming to your area I knew we had to go. It’s on your birthday too. I may have DM’ed them and let that info slip.”
I release a breath. A show doesn’t sound too bad. If I can fake a phone call and go blend into the back of the crowd, I may be able to get through it relatively unscathed.
“That sounds so fun. I’m just happy to see you, I can’t wait to squeeze you!”
“Me too,” she says. “I miss you too much, babe. It gets lonely traveling all the time, new cities every month. We need to have a cozy day too. Horror movies, tons of junk food, all the gossip. I miss that the most. But for your big day, we’re going all out.”
“All out?” I ask. “The show is perfect. That’s all I need. And a cozy day sounds amazing, I can’t wait.”
“Well, prepare for some shopping too. There’s a dress code for the venue. I’m thinking slutty vampire brides.” I laugh as she rambles different costume choices. “Fake blood but tastefully applied. Oh, and fangs… Fangs are so hot.”
“What am I going to do with you?” I say as I shake my head.
“Love me forever, of course.”
“You know it.” We chat for a few more minutes about her itinerary and by the time we end the call I’m more joyful than I’ve been in a long time. Falin has a way of blowing into my life like a storm, right when I need her most.